In this Spotlight, we talk to Project Manager, Yasmine Ayoub, about her career, current role and changes at Upperton.
Tell us about your career background.
Within my career, I have progressed from a Project Coordinator to a Project Manager. I joined Upperton in February 2023 after gaining experience in new product development, focusing on health, beauty, nutrition, and medical devices. My background includes handling commercial production, validation batches, and commercial stock. Managing the whole pharmaceutical development process and providing products for clinical trials has been a new and exciting opportunity for me.
What are your areas of interest?
I enjoy working across different territories, particularly in Europe and Ireland, as we build stronger client relationships and introduce our new capabilities.
I’m also really interested in formulation development. It’s fascinating to see how we develop products from scratch.
Could you give an overview of your role?
My role involves overseeing projects, invoicing, and budgeting. I handle change orders, quotes, proposals, and ensure that actions are completed and timescales are adhered to. We start with formulation and analytical development, make an R&D batch, test it, gather stability data, and then move to technical transfer. The project moves through technical batch production and stability before reaching the clinical stage.
Projects are divided into different sections with four stage gates, where I review and decide if we can move to the next stage. After development, there’s a handover from R&D to the technical transfer team, who oversee technical transfer, technical batches, and progress to clinical batch manufacture.
I regularly check in with the team and the client to address any changes, risks, or issues, ensuring smooth project management.
What is it like to work at Upperton?
It’s an exciting time to be with Upperton as we are growing and exploring new processes, including sterile product development. We encourage facility tours and face-to-face meetings, showcasing our Trent Gateway facility.
What’s the best aspect of your role as a Project Manager?
The best part of my role is the trust our customers place in our expertise. Our leadership team is hands-on in the early stages of every project, gradually transitioning the responsibility to my project team. Our resources are allocated efficiently, which builds trust and rapport with clients.
What are the challenges of being a project manager?
One of the main challenges is that every client is unique, requiring problem-solving, effective team communication, and collaboration. We share detailed time plans, action logs and regular meetings with the team to promote transparency.
Different timeframes present another challenge, which we overcome through open dialogue with clients and understanding their commitments.
Can you describe Upperton in a few words?
Upperton is forward-thinking, dynamic, and able to adapt to industry requirements.
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